Being a housewife takes patience, concentration, and organization. It's easy to become overwhelmed or fatigued.Your family comes home and messes up what you just cleaned.Here are some tips to keep from burning out.Let's be honest: there are times when you're just not feeling it. Don't worry: we're all tempted to fake it sometimes. A little organization, housecleaning, tips, shortcuts and hints to help her save time and we can have that wonderful little Suzy come out in each and every one of us.

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Saturday, March 28, 2015

Pre-soaking laundry is the only way for me to get clean laundry and remove stains. I find it effective when using beach - chlorine or oxygen - for whitening and brightening laundry also.

I don't care what kind of washer it is, it just doesn't get all the dirt out, and I find my clothes looking "dingy."Here is the water after a one hour soak of clean clothes...or so I thought...

My grandma had the washer next to a big utility sink and would have the wash water dump into the sink to drain. She would put a load in the washer and one in the sink. She could do 2 loads at one time. 2nd load only had to spin dry. She was very frugal. But, soaking clothes loosens the soil and you can reduce the wash time. It's hot water and detergent and sun that fades clothes, not soaking.

If the items are safe for washing, there is no harm to be done by allowing them to soak overnight. Most laundry products will get the same reaction for stain removal or whitening in one hour so it is really based on your time schedule. The only product that can harm clothing if left too long is chlorine bleach. If the laundry is left in a chlorine bleach solution for too long, it will develop holes and fading from weakened fibers.

Make sure the detergent or bleach is fully dissolved before adding laundry. If I am going to soak a load of laundry, I fill the tub with water and add the detergent or bleach and allow it to agitate for a few minutes before I add my clothes. Then, I turn off the cycle and allow them to soak. Some newer washers have a safety feature that locks the door and doesn't release until the load is complete. Boo , I say. For this reason (and the fact that it is pink and darn cute) I have went back to the good ole ringer washer, since I rarely dry my clothes in the dryer.

Things to consider....

Read the care labels before soaking. This is an absolute must, always. There are some garments that will not fare well from soaking, wool being one example.

Find a suitable container to fill. Soaking requires that the entire garment be submersed under water. You will need to locate a suitable container that can be filled with water and take the added clothing size (remembering that the weight of the clothing will increase the water level). Good containers include a clean laundry sink, a clean bucket, or even a baby's bath.

Add the clothing and push deep under the water so that it is covered. Be sure to push down any areas that pop up and try to stay dry above the waterline.

*If stains are especially bad, it pays to rub on a small amount of detergent or the suggested stain removal liquid or paste direct to the stain. Often the method for a particular stain will describe how this is best done.

My favorite products....

20 Mule Team® Borax

This is a great way to boost your detergent and help it get rid of tough stains.It also helps your detergent lift stains — such as tomato sauce, oil, grease, grass, and ground-in dirt — off fabrics when used to pre-soak your clothes.

Washing Soda

This is also a detergent booster....Because laundry soda is so alkaline it is a powerful cleaning agent for your home, and is used in many different cleaning solution recipes.It can cause skin irritation, so wear rubber gloves while cleaning with any solution containing it, and also rinse the area throughly if it gets in contact with your skin. If you do not have washing soda, it it fairly simple to make from Baking Soda....yes the same stuff you bake with...here is how....

Just heat your oven to 400 F and sprinkle your baking soda thinly on a cookie sheet. Bake it for about half hour, until it changes composition. You will notice it gets grainier (is that a word?) Ha Ha...

Fels~Naptha...

I always have this on hand for sooo may uses, and bonus it is usually only $1.00 . For a make your own pre-treatment ...

Dissolve 1/4 bar of Fels Naptha in 2 cups hot water and 1/2 cup vinegar. Pour mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the item and allow item to sit for 1-hour before washing.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

I absolutely am loving Chia seeds . I found mine at the local Aldi's grocery store for a couple bucks.I add them to any recipe that calls for poppy seeds, like lemon muffins..DIVINE.....

CHIA SEEDS are an excellent source of:*dietary fiber *Omega-3 fatty acids*amino acids*antioxidants { strengthen the immune system and keep you disease-free}*protein and boron, which aids in the absorption of calcium* calcium and phosphorus*dietary fiber and manganese*complex carbohydrates {good carbs}*essential fats* various vitamins like B vitamins * minerals like calcium, copper, zinc* energy to both mind and bodyCHIA SEEDS are also:~very low in cholesterol and sodium~helps the body retain fluids and electrolytes, it forms a gel in the stomach that slows the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, and it helps build muscle and other tissues.~reduces high blood pressure and is best for cardiovascular health.~inflammatory properties great for arthritis , they help reduce the pain and inflammation.~boost metabolism and help create lean muscle mass. Rich nutrients make chia seeds filling. Because they are low in calories, they are used for weight loss and maintenance programs.~help in improving the function of the brain. The essential fatty acids promote efficient nerve transmission.~increase energy production in the body. The energy produced is long lasting , so it is helpful in day-to-day tasks to prevent getting tired and stressed.~provide stamina and endurance in daily activities~the protein and calcium content in chia seeds help build muscles and strengthen the bones giving you a great physique if combined with regular exercise .~keep you youthful and improve the condition of your hair and skin making you look younger due to the vitamin and mineral content.~soluble fiber in the chia seeds makes you feel full faster controlling the excessive food intake and cravings for fatty foods.~water soaked chia seeds cleanse the digestive system by getting rid of junk in the intestines and gets rid of toxins in the digestive tract.~much healthier than flax seeds and do not go rancid. Also, gram per gram, there is more fiber, protein omega 3's and antioxidants than flax. The best chia seeds are called Mila.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

We are simply over-fed and under-nourishedWe have completely ruined the soil we grow food in, so we no longer harvest proper nutrient packed food that were once produced in highly fertile soil that we planted our crops. One apple today carries half the nutrients as an apple produced 50 years ago.How long will it be before we realize the simple truth that the health of every individual depends upon his nutritional status.Most wealthy as well as middle class Americans suffer from poor nutritional condition and are too dumb to realize what is making them sick.

3/4 or more of the food in our stores are nothing more than processed carbohydrates.Yes here is calories but no nutritional value. 50 percent of our population is in the category of suffering from some chronic condition like heart, high blood pressure,diabetes, cancer, inflamed joint pain, etc.most of the health problems caused by nutrient deficiency are the result of the consumption of overcooked and processed foods.When a mouse in a corn crib dines off kernels of corn, he eats the germ only. When we buy any packaged cereal in a grocery store, such as cornmeal or cornflakes, we buy what the mouse refused to eat. We get a non-nutritional food because we are as gullible as the allegorical New Englander who was taken in on wooden nutmegs. The difference is that we keep on buying the wooden nutmegs and try to make believe we are getting the genuine.Commercial whole-wheat bread is the most fatal of all. This seems curious until you realize that whole-wheat [bread] has not had the minerals and vitamins removed by milling and refining processes, so it can only be preserved from insect infestation by adding poison bug killers. “Bleach” is the polite commercial term for this poison.A diet high in cornmeal produces pellagra. Mussolini eliminated pellagra from Italy in a short time by prohibiting the use of corn as human food. Before then Italy led the world in deaths from this disease.Today it is hard to find any product not loaded with some corn derivative.Next is meats...deli ones are the very worst.Packing plants for many years have been employing nitrite indirectly in their curing processes…In pickle solutions the change of nitrate to nitrite is accomplished by means of aerobic bacteria that are present in the pickle.”14

The sugar has the effect of toning down the brash salt effect in the meat, giving it a more palatable flavor. The saltpeter aids in curing the meat and gives it a bright, attractive color. Meat cured without saltpeter has a dead, slatish appearance, which is very unattractive. The borax has the tendency to whiten the meat, giving it a bright, attractive appearance.

We must take the trouble in our homes to prepare our foods from the basic FRESH materials as much as possible, even to the extent of growing our vegetables and fruits on properly composted soil if we can.

Our modern methods of food production are leading to the destruction of our nation’s health, Processed food is not food—no matter how much we tell ourselves it is.

Americans are unaware of the 'Iron Curtain' (barrier set up by totalitarian governments to prevent outsiders from knowing the conditions inside their own country, and to prevent insiders from knowing what is going on outside). in this country encouraged by our government , mainly the FDA. They keep us from knowing that we are being sold fraudulent foods that had their nutritional value removed or destroyed to facilitate the commercial handling of the food, and to enable big food-enterprises to unfairly overpower by price competition of the smaller ones.Manufacturers are high dollar advertisers, and no news or media agency is able to tell the inside story of food frauds without losing their precious advertising revenue. Remember....if a food makes its own packaging, then eat it.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Hubby has been telling me for 6 years "NO" to first floor laundry...Well looky looky what I found, won't she be darling in my pink kitchen? I am soooo excited to do laundry! who knew?..and only $50.00 in working condition....YIPEEEEE!

I was smitten the first time I laid eyes on the round, pink Lady Kenmore Vista-Matic washing machine. It was listed on Craigslist...what a find!

Because the listing was over a month old, I thought I could probably talk the guy on price.What guy wants a pink washer, right? So the only obstacle between me and the Vista-Matic was a matter of 50 bucks. I was determined she would be coming home with me.

The drive was about a 2 and a half hour round trip thru Milwaukee road construction.

I have decorated my kitchen with vintage pink items. I could visualize her sitting in a corner storing my linens, and storing ice and beverages when we hosted parties.

The one selling feature I cannot deny was her soft pink color, It was the main reason I wanted her. It never crossed my mind to hide it in the basement. I’m sure hubby know what they say...Happy Wife...Happy Life.

For the next many years, she will sit in the kitchen corner next to my pink range storing linens and serving as a beverage cooler when we entertain. She will received many compliments from visitors, and I love her.

After sitting in a garage for perhaps 30 years or more, this 1950s pink lady will be put to work ringing out all of my clothes as well as the babies..

Boy, they really did build things to last, she has metal as thick as a tank!. I was amazed when they said she worked..The man who sold her to me plugged her in to watch her pristine wringer work its magic.

I get giddy every time I find an antique or vintage item at a thrift shop, yard sale auction or antique store, dust it off and use it, I am giving that item a second life and rescuing it from the landfill. And its story, whether known or made up, moves on with it.

I’m sure this new chapter in the Vista-Matic’s story will be a good one.

Here she sat after bringing her home, waiting for the flooring to be completed....I asked hubby if I should cover her before the snow came..... I got the look like I had 3 heads....lol. "It's just a washer he said...OH NO HE DIDN'T!

I just had to add some bling....Don't laugh , I tried fitting a rhinestone tiara on her... (not even kidding)

The picture behind her is of me and my son...30 years ago...I just had to put my grandson in the picture...he thought it was pretty cool... Maybe not so much when these pictures surface down the road at his wedding....ha ha

Me and my son in a wicker laundry basket...I thought it fit in perfect with the laundry theme...

I cannot wait to pull her up to the sink, and wring stuff out...

What to Expect

Using a vintage washer does require more commitment, physical strength, and more time. It is better to commit a few hours once or twice a week to doing laundry, rather than trying to do the smaller loads many of us do.

What you will need in order to get successfully through a wash day:

14-20 gallons of clean water

2-3 laundry baskets (one large, and two medium or small are ideal)

Soap or detergent ... add a small amount of borax with the detergent

A place to dry your clothes..... clothes line is ideal

Stamina, patience, and cheerfulness and Ibuprofen...my back gets a work out

An easy-to-fix lunch...soup, salad, sandwich?

A good bottle of wine (for later)

How to get the most use of your water...

Whites, delicates and the cleanest things go in first

Light colors and the medium-dirty items go in next

Dark colored clothes and the dirtiest items go in last

Washing laundry in this order means you can do a whole weeks' worth of laundry in one batch of wash water, and one batch of rinse water....

Wringer Worries

There important things you should know about your wringer for safety. "Don't insert fingers into wringer!" for obvious reasons... and ALWAYS keep small children away from the washer while it is in motion.

To avoid injuries and to release stuck clothing, you should know how to loosen your wringer. Many models of wringer washing machines have a catch-release of some kind, which will allow you to stop and separate your wringer rollers, to release items that are stuck. Some have a pop-up bar across the wringer frame that when hit, will cause the roller bars to pop apart. Other models have a little bar on a pivot which, when twisted one way, will allow the roller bars to separate, and when twisted the other way will cause them to stay tightly together.

How to re-set your wringer is another thing you should know before filling your washer .Some models have to be re-set by flipping the top-half of the wringer frame all the way back, then forward again until it catches and the roller bars come together. Others will not re-engage until the pivot-bar is twisted the correct direction.

To start the wringer action, there is a lever at one end of the frame which will start and stop the rolling, and, when placed in "neutral" (straight up and down), will allow you to re-position your wringer where it will be most convenient. Some washer models allow only three different position settings, others allow you to put the wringer anywhere within a 360* radius.

The entire wringer can be lifted out of its place on the washer for repairs and adjustments. It is heavy!

Your wringer roller bars can be adjusted to squeeze the clothes loosely or tightly. You will find the adjustment screws on the underside, and you will probably have to take the wringer off the machine in order to make adjustments. If you get it too tight, you will have trouble with jeans and heavy items; too loose, and smaller items will remain too damp.I fold lighter weights in half to get the most water out.

Finally, your wringer will need to be oiled from time to time. Beware of drips shortly after having oiled it, and don't let clothes you especially care about touch the ends of the rollers for a while.Here are some more tips from vintage housewives....

For safe easy no fail wringing, use these rules:

1. Never, with your fingers feed flat unfolded wet laundry into the dangerous tight rolling surface of the wringer to be wrung. This method will result in both harm to you, your machine and your laundry. It may stick to the backside roll surface, you will not see it, may double over on the roll surface & jam, or worse yet damage the garment or material, stall, overload motor or worse yet catch your damp fingertips pulling you into the rolling surface!

2. Always lift up and out of the wash tub & fold the edge of the article of material ( about the size of your palm/hand ) As you are folding, make this into a triangle shape before aiming at the wringer rolls. Never have your fingers closer than the size of your palm for safety. please remember to feed the fabric with fabric, do not ever try to guide the fabric onto the roll surface with your damp fingers.

3. Hold, aim & feed this folded & flat rolled "snake head" shape to the roller surface. As the material is lifting from the wash tub, quickly lift & even out the "load" to be wrung through, assisting in this possess will give a no fail wring out, saving time & wear on your wash, and the machine.

This is a never fail system learned from many laundry room matrons here in the mighty Maytag Midwest, as a young laundry room voyeur in the 1960's.

Most wringer washer drains are made to drain into buckets, or be attached to a garden hose - whichever is more convenient. I find because I have a bad back that draining the water via a hose far enough away from my house is the best choice for me, but a bucket works also.

If your hose gets clogged with fuzz and gunk, this is easily solved by cupping your hand around the end of the hose to create a clean seal, and blowing hard until you release the clog.

Your agitator sometimes may "pop" loose. In order to fix this, you may have to drain your wash load, and then fit the agitator back into place. It may go in somewhat hard, but will fit once you have it positioned correctly.

Insert collars of shirts first

Fold jeans in half. Zipper on the inside, and make sure the zipper and button are laying flat.

O.k...get this.. I washed some clean clothes because I didn't have any dirty ones and really wanted to use my Pink Lady..(Don't judge me..lol)

This water is from a load of CLEAN wash that I washed in my wringer washer last night....it was washed in a Maytag front loader last week...I thought our laundry looked dingy ...eeeewwwww.

New isn't always better. She is sooo incredibly quiet and pulls dirt out like nobody's business...

Monday, February 16, 2015

Today as I was thrifting I came across a Wilton 3D stand up teddy bear pan. Not knowing what I will do with it I reluctantly put it in my cart. It was only 6 bucks. When I got home I googled the pan and found soooo many different really cool uses besides just a bear. Here they are....I am sooo excited for my grandbabies first birthday....

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